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Dave Searles: Obama will split Dems with faith-based plans

Dave Searles  —  7/03/2008 5:24 am

Dear Editor: This is an open letter to Sen. Obama.

I heard your announcement on NBC Nightly News concerning your support for more funding for faith-based programs. Unless you back off from this faith-based funding and programs proposal, you will have lost my vote and I will be forced to endorse someone else for president. It won't be McCain or Barr.

I'm a very strong believer in separation of church and state. In fact, I'm a member of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Faith-based funding and programs using federal and/or state money is a clear and flagrant violation of the principle of separation of church and state. It is an insult to Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and the Democratic Party.

In 2000, I voted for Ralph Nader because Al Gore ignored the issue of the environment and would not shut up concerning religion and would not stop catering to religious fanatics. In 2006, I endorsed and voted for the Green Party candidate for Wisconsin governor because Gov. Jim Doyle created a faith-based funding and programs office.

You should be taking a page from former President Jimmy Carter's playbook. Although Jimmy is a very religious person, he was a firm believer in separation of church and state.

If you continue to push this proposal for faith-based funding and programs and catering to the religious fanatics, you are going to split the Democratic Party and give the election to the Republicans. We do not need or want a repeat of 2000, but that is what is going to happen.

Dave Searles

Brodhead

Dave Searles  —  7/03/2008 5:24 am